England's World Cup hopes in tatters after record defeat to South Africa

England's hopes of successfully defending the Cricket World Cup look in tatters after they crumbled to a record 229-run defeat to South Africa on one of their most harrowing white-ball nights in their history.

Jos Buttler's side conceded their highest-ever ODI score of 399-7 as Heinrich Klaasen (109 from 67 balls) and Marco Jansen (75no off 42) plundered 153 from the final nine overs in a scorching Mumbai.

The reigning champions then capitulated to 68-6 inside 12 overs in reply and then 170 all out in 22 overs with the returning Ben Stokes caught and bowled for five by Kagiso Rabada in his first appearance of the tournament after overcoming a hip niggle.

England's third defeat in four matches may not be terminal to their hopes of making the semi-finals as they suffered a trio of losses in 2019 and still made the knockout stages.

But the manner of the mauling against South Africa could be hard to overcome, with this display more reminiscent of the behind-the-times rabble that were eliminated in the group stage of the 2015 World Cup, not the limited-overs trailblazers they have been since.

England's nine-wicket drubbing to New Zealand to kick off the competition and shock 69-run loss to Afghanistan last Sunday were bad enough, yet the display against an admittedly excellent South Africa side was dire as Buttler's bowlers were flogged and his batters guilty of timid strokes.

It was only some late-innings fireworks from Mark Wood (43no off 17) and Gus Atkinson (35 off 21) that narrowed the enormous margin of England's defeat, with the tailenders smashing 70 from 32 balls.

Buttler's side must now somehow rally themselves for Thursday's clash with Sri Lanka, knowing they will probably have to win each of the remaining five games, including fixtures against red-hot favourites India and a resurgent Australia, to make the last four.

South Africa, meanwhile, looked every inch the World Cup contenders as they bounced back from being upset by Netherlands last time out, showing they sort of form they had produced when thrashing Sri Lanka and Australia in their first two fixtures.

Source: Sky Sports